Dispensing closures with flexible vent



Feb. 20, 1968 s, 1 ET AL DISPENSING CLOSURES WITH FLEXIBLE VENT Filed 001;. 7, 1966 FEE /NVENTOR5 114, lz'bif Sidne New y azz United States Patent 3,369,718 DISPENSING CLGSURES WITH FLEXIBLE VENT Sidney M. Libit, 441 Lakeside Terrace, Glencoe, Ill. 60022, and Arthur Wesley Newby, 1265 Schaumburg Road, Elgin, Ill. 60120 Filed Oct. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 585,086 6 Claims. (Cl. 222481.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Dispensing closure for incorporation with a receptacle for a fluent substance comprising a base to secure the device to the receptacle, a spout extending from said base through which flow occurs and a nozzle extending from the base having a closed distal end and a side opening whereby venting is accomplished concurrently with pouring. The nozzle is flexible and the opening therein so arranged that, when the nozzle is bent, the opening engages over the spout to close both the opening and spout.

This invention relates to a dispensing closure to be attached to or to form a part of a fluid-containing receptacle. In particular it has reference to a device for that purpose which may be conveniently molded in one piece from some resilient plastic composition and which provides for venting of the receptacle in order that pouring may occur without entrapment of air, viz. gurgling.

Other objects are to provide a dispensing closure which may be actuated between open and closed positions by simple finger pressure in a foolproof manner, which has positive sealing when closed, which may be readily adapted for pouring of the fluid in a single stream or in a spray pattern, which comprises no mechanical parts, which is adaptable to any type of attachment, e.g. by means of a screw thread or a bayonet connection, a beaded neck bottle, integration with the receptacle as part of a blow-molding operation or with a male portion for a plug fit in a punched hole of tin can. Further the device is of extremely simple construction, lending itself ideally to molding in plastic in a comparatively inexpensive mold, thereby enabling the same to be sold at an attractive price.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawing, discloses certain preferred forms in which the principles of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In this drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, medial, cross-section of a device in accordance with the invention, in open position;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, to show the device in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device in open position;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation of an alternative form of dispensing spout;

FIG. 6 is partial plan view of another alternative form of spout;

FIG. 7 is a combined side elevation and cross section showing the device attached to a bottle and in use;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional detail showing rigidification of a portion of the nozzle wall by internal ribbing;

FIG. 9 is a similar detail showing ribbing for the same purpose on the exterior of the nozzle;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross section of an alternative form of nozzle; and

FIG. 11 is a cross section taken on the line 1111 of FIG, 10.

3,369,718 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 Broadly regarded, the invention device comprises a generally cylindrical base part having a portion serving to attach the device to the receptacle, the base part having a top wall provided with a generally flat exterior surface. Located to one side of the vertical axis of the device on the top wall thereof is a nozzle provided with a side opening, and the bore of this nozzle continues as the bore of a tubular extension extending below the top wall into the receptacle, e.g. within the neck of a bottle, the bore being in fluid communication with the interior of the receptacle. Also extending outwardly from the top wall is a dispensing spout having an exterior bead. At least the nozzle is of some resilient, but generally shape-re taining plastic material so characterized that when finger pressure is applied the same may be bent along some line intermediate its distal end and the junction thereof with the top surface. Thus, when bent at an angle of about the nozzle is pinched otf whereby to close the same against exit of the contents of the receptacle. The spout is provided with some means adapted to interengage with the side opening of the nozzle, for example, a peripheral bead in order that, when the nozzle is bent the opening may be forced over the spout and constrained to remain in that position by detent action. Engagement in the manner just explained is also effective to obturate the spout to seal the same against escape of the contents of the receptacle. Thus, sealing occurs at two points. Disengagement of the nozzle from the spout is the reverse of the action just described, whereupon flow may occur through the spout concurrently with venting through the side opening of the nozzle.

Adverting, then, to the drawing there is shown a device 10 embodying the principles of the invention comprising a top 11 provided with a peripheral skirt 12. The skirt has internal threads 14 engageable with a correspondingly threaded neck 15 of a bottle 16. As mentioned heretofore, other known types of engagement may be employed. In the usual case a ring 17 is provided on the lower face of the top 11 to abut the end of the neck 15 and effect a reliable seal.

Extending outwardly from the upper face 21 of the top 11 is a nozzle 23, preferably of elliptical or flat oval transverse cross section (FIG. 4), having a wall thickness such as to allow repeated fiexure within the reasonable life expectancy of the device without cracking, the two extreme positions, namely on and off being shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Since optimum operation is achieved when the bend A occurs repetitively on the same line it may be desirable to provide that the wall thickness over the zone B, i.e. below the bend, be made thicker than elsewhere. By so doing collapse of the wall at A may be assured upon repetitive actuation. Alternatively, such rigidifying of the portion B may be achieved by providing ribs on the exterior or interior of the nozzle or both. See FIGS. 8 and 9, where the ribbing is indicated at 25 and 26 respectively. In the case of exterior ribbing the same may extend in the form of a gusset between the top 11 and the nozzle 23 (FIG. 9). It will be understood that the thickness of the wall at A will be such in relation to the material employed that when the wall is collapsed by bending, the bore thereof is pinched closed to interrupt flow therethrough. Such result is better assured by making the transverse cross section of the bore, at least in a zone surrounding the bend line A, of somewhat greater dimension in the direction of the bend line than at 90 thereto, viz. by employing a cross section which is elliptical or essentially so, or flat oval (FIGS. 2 and 4).

On the interior of the device the nozzle 23 is continued as a venting tube 29 of a length calculated to extend beyond the liquid level in the receptacle when pouring oc- 3 curs at some reasonable rate (FIG. 7). To this end the common axis of the nozzle 23 and tube 29 is desirably located to one side of the longitudinal axis of the device 10.

A pouring spout 31 having a bore 30 extends from the top 11 and is positioned so that an opening 32 in the nozzle 23 faces the spout. This opening 32 is adapted, when the nozzle is bent to closed condition, to engage over the spout with a snug fit. Snap type engagement is preferable and may be achieved by a head 34 peripherally of the spout. The elasticity of the material will allow the margin of the opening to be distended as the bead is passed and to restore itself into snug engagement with the neck of the spout. It will be apparent that the head is spaced suificiently above the top surface 21 (FIG. 3) to allow the margin of the opening 32 to be below the bead when the device is in its closed condition. Further, that the interior of the nozzle, at least in a zone circumjacent the opening 32, must freely accommodate the bead 34.

From the foregoing it will have become apparent that, assuming the device is in closed condition (FIG. 3) the user need simply insert a finger nail or the tip of a finger beneath the distal end of the nozzle and pry the latter upward whereupon its inherent resiliency may be relied upon to restore it to its vertical position (FIG. 1), or the same may be aided by the finger, keeping in mind that the device is molded in the form of FIG. 1 and that the material is characterized by having an elastic memory. Pouring may then proceed. Re-closing consists simply in pressing the nozzle back to the position of FIG. 3. As described above the nozzle will, upon being bent, be pinched at A to close the bore thereof. Thus a dual sealing function is achieved: one seal being due to the pinch, as aforesaid, and the other due to constriction of the periphery of the opening 32 about the neck of the spout 31. Although the opening 32 is shown as of flatsided oval contour it will be evident that the same may be circular or elliptical, depending upon the nature of the interference when the nozzle approaches and passes over the bead 34.

FIG. illustrates an alternative form of bead peripherally of the spout. In this form the head has a lateral surface which is frusto-conical, with the smaller diameter outward. The lower face 34b of the bead is annular and essentially horizontal. Thus, the inclined lateral surface acts as a pilot to facilitate reception of the opening 32, while the face 34b abuts the interior of the nozzle around said opening in what may best be described as a latching action.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a form of spout which may be either of those in FIGS. 1 and 5 but in which the upper wall is perforated, whereby spray dispensing may be accomplished.

It will be observed that the configuration of the device is such that the same may be readily molded in one piece thereby effecting a substantial saving in the costs of fabricating the mold and in production. To this end the top and bottom edges 41 and 42 of the opening 32 may be inclined as shown in order that the portion of the mold defining the opening and the piece part may readily separate upon opening of the mold. Alternatively the side of the nozzle opposite the spout may be inclined (FIG. to a degree permitting the aperture 32a to be molded by so-called straight pull of a core. In this case the edges 41a and 42a will be vertical. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative mode of rigidifying the lower portion of the nozzle, namely, by providing a pad 50. It will be understood that the presence of this pad will assure bending of the nozzle on essentially the same line upon repetitive actuation. Thus registration of the aperture 32 or 32a with the spout is rendered far more reliable than if the line of bending were not so controlled. In addition, the establishment of a constant line of bending has been found to result in better closing of the bore of the nozzle, as repeated working of the resilient material increases its accommodation to the pinched, i.e. closed condition.

While We have shown particular embodiments of our invention, it will be understood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and we, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A dispensing closure for a fluid-containing receptacle comprising a base part including means to attach the same to the receptacle, said part having a top wall, a nozzle of resilient, generally shape-retaining material extending outwardly from said top wall and closed at its distal end, a pouring spout extending outwardly from said top wall and spaced from said nozzle, said nozzle having a side opening facing said spout, said opening, when the nozzle is bent, being adapted to engage said spout to close the passage therein, the respective bores of the nozzle and spout being in communication with the interior of the receptacle when the closure is in operative relation therewith.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that the spout is provided with an exterior peripheral bead adapted to engage inside the bore of the nozzle with a detent action when the same is engaged with the spout.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that a venting tube extends inwardly from said top wall, the bore of the tube being in communication with the bore of the nozzle.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which the transverse cross section of the nozzle, at least in a region whereat bending occurs, is substantially of flat-oval contour, the spout facing one of the wider faces of the nozzle and said opening being in said wider face.

5. A dispensing closure in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the cross section of the nozzle in the region of bending is so arranged in relation to the material comprising the same that bending is effective to close the bore of the same.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein the portion of said spout between said head and top wall is a cylindrical shank and said head has a lateral surface, said lateral surface being frusto-conical with its larger diameter greater than said shank, the annular surface between said lateral surface and shank being substantially perpendicular to said shank whereby, when the nozzle is engaged with the spout said annular surface abuts the interior surface of the nozzle circumjacent said opening therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,903,915 4/1933 Smith.

2,130,676 9/1938 Sebell 222-541 X 2,812,120 11/1957 Beall 222481.5 2,893,611 7/1959 Akers 222541 X 3,181,743 5/1965 Libit et a1 z 222-538 X 3,211,330 10/1965 Frankel 222481.5 X

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

